Sleep Eludes Me!

Ohhhhhh yeah....I hear ya! What I recently started doing is having a glass of wine in the evening and I sleep like a baby now! :-) Good luck!

I have been taking a supplement since March that has helped me when it comes to sleeping through the night. It has also helped with my allergies, migraines and chronic daily headaches. Let me know if you'd like more info about it! Good luck to you. I know how frustrating it is!

Say a little prayer before you go to sleep. Pray for everyone that comes in to your mind while you lie there awake, that usually works for me.
"Dear Lord, please let me rest assured that you are protecting me and my family throughout the night and I have nothing to panic about, and since I'm thinking of Judy, Paul, Leo and Samantha please help them to solve their current situation that is bugging them. Amen"
Somethimes something so simple and unbelievable really does work ;)

homeopathic remedies are great for this. even OTC. very cheap too.
Good Luck!
V

I take, for PMS and stress and to help me 'rest'.... I take "Hyland's Calms Forte- for adults."

It is homeopathic, non-habit forming, natural. You can get it from any Whole Foods, or natural food store.
Because it is homeopathic, it may work or not, depending. For me, it helps. It does not make you feel tired or 'drugged' or like a tranquilizer... it just helps to 'calm' and help you get rest.... and for stress etc.

You can look it up on Amazon and read the reviews of it there.

all the best,
Susan

Hey Christie,
Have you had your hormones checked? It may be that you are experiencing lower estrogen or progesterone levels which does affect sleep. I remember having that issue, and found out that my progesterone was almost at menopausal levels. I am now on a supplement called Progestaid, which I was told is still safe to use while breast feeding.

What is the panic about? For me, it was that my child stopped breathing. Getting an AngelCare monitor that will alert me if they stop moving, helped me. Is there anything like that that might work for you?

Acupuncture is great, and it can't hurt to try it. Your insurance might even cover it.

I use melatonin supplements. I have never slept well - pre or post baby... they saved me....

Try melatonin! I bought a supplement for my husband that has a mix of melatonin, valerian root, & theanine...all Nature's relaxers. I also bought him straight melatonin, 5mg. He's a big guy, so he takes 2 tablets.

It could also be the fact that your hormones are changing. You could try some all natural estrogen replacement pills. Also, i take something called 5-HTP...helps promote calmness & a postive mood. It also increases the body's own supply of seratonin, which is a 'sleep' chemical. I'm 38 & have never been into supplements before recently...always been a skeptic. But, i do feel they have helped and can be beneficial. The only supplement i used to take is vitamin D3. Just be sure to do your homework, and if you go into a vitamin/supplement shop, talk to the sales people there...if you tell them what you are wanting & what results you are hoping for, they are very knowledgable & can steer you in the right direction!

What works for me is Passion Flower tincture. You can get it at Henry's, Wholes Foods, etc. No side effects, smooth, restful sleep and you wake up feeling great. I usually just put the drops in a shot glass and add just a bit of water and drink it. At times I also mix it with chamomile tea and that is very pleasant. I love it and it works great for me in times of stress when I cannot sleep. VERY calming and just nice. :O) I hope you get some rest soon!
Love,
G.

Check out Calms Forte a homeopathic remedy. I needed it last night.

Good luck

P.S. Also check when your last caffeine intake was. That last Diet Coke, Cup of Tea which is supposed to be calming but is not caffeine-free, that 5:30 Cup of Coffee or the after dinner piece of chocolate maybe affecting you differently now and keeping you up. I have had to become almost Caffeine-Free to be able to fall asleep at night.

Hi Christine, Try using lavender, go to your health food store in your area, we get ours at Henry's just a dad or two, I use it and i sleep solid and through the night. we are an all natural family, and my husband has researched aroma theropy oils for just about everything. J.

Hi Christie----There are a couple of thoughts that might help. First, yes, age likely has something to do with it. Hormones are both a blessing and a curse. I am 53 but have been in full blown menopause for over 10 years now. Sleep was one of the first casualties. After trying a number of different HRT methods, I finally settled on bioidentical HRT, prescribed by an internist who practices integrative medicine. HRT dangers aside, I found that I really needed replacement hormones. We are supposed to have certain levels of estrogne, progesterone and testosterone in our bodies, different levels at different ages. Saliva testing showed I was deficient in all areas. My doc shared that the estrogen helps with energy durign the day and the progesterone helps with sleep at night.

Secondly, I also suffered from what many women suffer from...brain chatter at night. That's when you wake and then can't fall asleep again, thinking of God only knows what. Bach's makes a sleep remedy, specifically made from different flowers to help quiet brain chatter. You spray it under the tongue. Get at any health food store.

I will also play what I call a massage CD when I go to bed. Falling asleep to spa music, I think, also helps to quiet my brain. I think regular massage is also good for sleep. Accupuncture is good. Your diet can also have an impact. Feel free to contact me for details. To much to go into via this venue. I'm learning through a series of wellness class, taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. So I have some great info to share. Even if you just want to go into more detail with any of the other suggestions I've offered, please ask. I'm happy to help. There is much to be done in helping the body to help itself. It's unfortunate that modern medicine does not realize this fact and treats symptoms instead of the cause of the problem. Good luck and be well, D.

Both my and my son's neurologists have both suggested melatonin. It works wonders in both kids and adults. (And you can get it at Trader Joe's for $3.99/bottle.)

Say a little prayer before you go to sleep. Pray for everyone that comes in to your mind while you lie there awake, that usually works for me.
"Dear Lord, please let me rest assured that you are protecting me and my family throughout the night and I have nothing to panic about, and since I'm thinking of Judy, Paul, Leo and Samantha please help them to solve their current situation that is bugging them. Amen"
Somethimes something so simple and unbelievable really does work ;)

As another poster mentioned, I have also heard about Melatonin. It is natural and the body needs it to sleep. I am thinking about trying it myself.

Other things to help you, think about:
Is your room completely dark? Little lights from clocks or cell phones and TV's will keep your mind more awake and tense. Cover them up with little handkerchiefs or socks. Use light blocking shades. I LOVE the room all dark, definitely sleep better like this.

Install a dimmer on your bedside lamp. Start dimming lights about an hour before you want to sleep. This tells your brain that soon it's bedtime.

Another homeopathic thing to try, that I have used plenty: By Hyland, it's called Calm Forte. Little tablets you take at bedtime. ZERO side effects, can't hurt only help.

Something else that works: vitamin supplement combo of Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc. Together in one tablet. Calms and relaxes, take it when you want to start winding down and have your pj's on.

Hope you sleep a little better tonight :-)

Melatonin is a naturally occuring hormone that helps us sleep, and as we age, our bodies produce less and less. It comes in 1,3,and 5mg. doses. There are no side effects, and no morning hangover. You can sstart with whatever dose you want, and see how it goes. My husband has a sleep disorder, and takes 15mg. a night. Suzanne Somers wrote a book about natural supplements, and says she takes 25mg. a night. I'd start at 3mg. and see how you sleep.